BOCA RATON, Fla. — UTSA was within one run through seven innings of play but No. 17 Florida Atlantic exploded for eight runs in the eighth to defeat the Roadrunners by a score of 13-5 on Saturday afternoon at FAU Stadium.
The Roadrunners (15-30, 6-17 C-USA) slowly chipped away at a 3-0 deficit with a run in the fourth and a pair of runs in the seventh to tie the game.
Tyler Straub and C.J. Pickering led off the fourth with back-to-back hits and Straub eventually crossed home plate on J.T. Gilmore's ground out.
Gilmore came through once again in the seventh, as he led off with a solo home run, his first of the season, to make it 3-2. Back-to-back doubles later, pinch-hitter Trent Bowles crossed home to tie the score on Skyler Valentine's RBI double.
Florida Atlantic (32-13, 16-7 C-USA) broke the tie in the home half of the seventh with a pair of runs and went on a scoring barrage in the eighth.
Both teams combined for 25 hits with the Owls outhitting the Roadrunners, 14-11.
Straub picked up his team-leading 14th game with multiple hits after going 3-for-4 with two runs. Pickering and Bowles also had two hits each for UTSA.
The Owls' Bill Endris finished the day 5-for-6 with an RBI, two runs and a pair of doubles.
Sunday's series finale will be played at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday.
